Apparatus for pleating skirts



Aug. 2, 1955 G. A. MOCUSKER 2,714,478

APPARATUS FOR PLEATING SKIRTS Filed Oct. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gerald A. McCusker INVENTOR.

g- 1955 G. A. MCCUSKER 2,714,478

APPARATUS FOR PLEATING SKIRTS Filed Oct. 9, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 90 80 90 Fly. 4

I4 75 a2 find] Gem/d A Mc Cusker I N V EN TOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 2,714,478 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 APPARATUS FOR PLEATING SKIRTS Gerald A. McCusker, McKeesport, Pa. Application October 9, 1953, Serial No. 385,241 3 Claims. (Cl. 223-33) This invention relates and pertains more pleating skirts.

The primary object of this invention is to materially expedite the process of pleating skirts and render the same subject to semi-automatic operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for pleating skirts which obviate the laborious and time-consuming manual process now commonly in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in position for use on a steam table, a skirt to be plated being shown in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing details of the assembly on an enlarged scale;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the device in pressing position; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the steam shields.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates the framework of the apparatus generally, which incorporates a rear frame member 12 and a front frame member 14 which acts as a pressure bar, as will be presently apparent. These two members are interconnected by the end members 16 and 18, respectively, the assemblage being secured together in any desired manner.

The framework 10 is generally rectangular in configuration and each of its corners is provided with a generally U-shaped bracket member indicated generally by the reference character 20, the bight portions 22 of which are adapted to overlie opposite edges of a steam iron table, indicated by the reference character 24, and with the leg portions 26 and 28, respectively, disposed above and below the top and bottom edges thereof, respectively, the bottom leg 28 being provided with a thumb screw member 30 which has a swivel base member 32 thereon for gripping the undersurface of the steam table.

The steam table is of conventional construction and is provided with a hollow chamber 34 through which steam, under control of the operator, passes to be discharged through the vent openings 36 in the table top, and it will be noted that the table employs the usual resilient covering materials 38 and 40.

From Figures 4 and 5, it will be noted that the pressure bar 14 extends vertically above the upper surfaces of the frame members 12, 16 and 18, and is provided with generally to a pressing device, particularly to improved apparatus for a tapered outer .surface, as indicated by the reference character 42. A pair of guide bars 44 and 46 are rigidly secured at one end to the pressure bar 14 and extend transversely of the frame therefrom to terminate in the headed end portions 48 and 50, respectively. As seen most clearly in Figure 3, a movable pressure bar member 52 has its opposite end portions resting upon the side frame members 16 and 18, and is provided at intermediate portions With enlarged openings 54 and 56 through which the guide bars 44 and 46 extend for guidably receiving the movable pressure bar and constraining the movement thereof with respect to the frame. A handle member 58 extends longitudinally of the frame and projects from the forward end thereof and may be provided with a looped hand grip portion 60, in the manner shown, with its intermediate portion 62 enlarged and provided with an elongated slot 64 pivotally receiving a pin 66 at one end of a connector link 68 Whose opposite end is pivotally secured to the movable pressure bar 52. The inner end portion of the handle member is deformed downwardly, as indicated by the reference character 70, and its free end is pivotally connected by a suitable pin 72 to the frame member 18, the inner side of this frame member being notched as indicated by the reference character 74 to receive this free end of the handle member such that the inner end portion 76 thereof is disposed below the lower surface of the movable pressure bar member 52, in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 3.

In this manner, it will be manifest that movement of the lever member 58 will effect shifting of the movable pressure bar 52 towards the stationary pressure bar 14. -A sheet of flexible material 78 is corrugated to form the alternate peaks and valleys 80 and 82, respectively, and its opposite sides are securely fastened to the movable and stationary pressure bar members, respectively.

It will be noted that the guide bar 44 is shorter than the guide bar 46 such that the normal position of the movable pressure bar 52 in its fully extended position will be angular with respect to the stationary pressure bar 14. This, of course, conforms most nearly to the disposition of the material of a skirt, since the same will be normally relatively narrow at the waist and flare outwardly toward the bottom. In utilizing the apparatus, it will be manifest that'the same is securely clamped to the table of a steam iron in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 1, and that the waist of the skirt is placed adjacent the outer end of the steam iron, in the manner shown. The skirt material is placed over the resilient material 78, and porous presser strips 84 of substantially the same length as the material 78 are placed in the valleys 82 of the material 78 such as to position the skirt material therein. This, of course, is done in such a manner as to acquire the desired depth of the pleat. Steam shield members 86 and 88 have hinged side flaps 90 at one side thereof which are normally spring urged into generally right angular position with respect to the main body 92 of these shields and these flaps are disposed adjacent the pressure bar members 14 and 52, respectively, and take the place of presser strips at these points, serving to offset the Weight of that portion of the skirt not resting in the presser and preventing the same from disturbing or pulling out the skirt portion being pressed. The lever 58 is then manipulated to move the pressure bar 52 toward the pressure bar 14 in the manner shown in Figure 5 while the steam iron is simultaneously operated to force steam upwardly through the vent openings 36 and simultaneously downward through the vent openings 94 in the top portion 96 thereof such that the skirt material between the pressure bars is firmly pressed or pleated. This operation is repeated until the entire skirt is pleated throughout.

The steam shields will, of course, serve to retain the.

steam within the confines of the frame between the members 14 and 52 thereof, and will serve to prevent undue loss of steam from the iron during the pleating operation. t

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a steam iron having a base portion provided with steam vent openings, an open, generally rectangular framework secured to said base portion and enclosing at least some of said vent openings, one element of said framework consisting of a fixed pressure bar, a movable pressure bar disposed in opposed relation to the fixed bar, means for urging the movable bar toward said fixed bar, a sheet of flexible porous material secured at opposite edges to said fixed and movable pressure bars respectively so as to be spaced above said base portion in covering relation to some of said vent openings, said material being corrugated to provide alternate peaks and valleys, and a plurality of forming strips disposed within said valleys to retain the material of a skirt therein for pleating the same when the said movable pressure bar is urged toward the fixed bar.

2. A device for pleating skirts comprising, a frame including a side member and a pair of opposite end members, a fixed pressure bar constituting a side of the frame opposite the said side member, said pressure bar extending vertically above said side and end frame members, a second pressure bar, said second bar having its opposite end portions resting on the opposite end members of the frame, a pair of spaced guide bars secured to said fixed pressure bar and slidably received in the second guide bar, an operating lever carried by said frame and connected to said second bar for moving the same toward and away from the fixed pressure bar, a sheet of flexible material secured at opposite edges to said pressure bars, said material being corrugated to provide alternate peaks and valleys, and a plurality of forming strips disposed within said valleys to retain the material of a skirt therein for pleating the same when the said one pressure bar is moved towards the other.

3. A device for pleating skirts comprising, a frame including a side member and a pair of opposite end members, a fixed pressure bar constituting a side of the frame opposite the said side member, said pressure bar extending vertically above said side and end frame members, a second pressure bar, said second bar having its opposite end portions resting on the opposite end members of the frame, a pair of spaced guide bars secured to said fixed pressure bar and slidably received in the second guide bar, an operating lever carried by said frame and connected to said second bar for moving the same toward and away from the fixed pressure bar, a shield member disposed at. opposite sides of the frame, each shield including a body portion projecting beyond its corresponding side of the frame and a hinged flap portion along one edge positioned adjacent the inner face of its corresponding pressure bar, a sheet of flexible material secured at opposite edges to said pressure bars, said material being corrugated to provide alternate peaks and valleys, and a plurality of forming strips disposed within said valleys to retain the material of a skirt therein for pleating the same when the said one pressure bar is moved towards the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stewart Dec. 6, 1932 Pinsuti June 26, 1951 

